Device for mounting a flexible bag of various sizes

ABSTRACT

This device has an outer binder having an inner side wall surface of a predetermined shape. A plurality of inner hoops having an outer side wall surface of a shape and size complementary to various levels of the inner side wall surface of the outer binder. A flexible bag of any size may be mounted and maintained in an open manner between the outer binder and a selected one of the inner hoops by inserting the bag through the inner hoop with the bag&#39;s lip portion folded to wrap around over the outer side wall of the inner hoop and then placed inside the outer binder until the folded back lip portion of the bag is sandwiched between the mating outer binder and inner hoop. The inner hoop has openings to allow the flexible bag to cling to it&#39;s side wall to ease the mounting operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a method and device for holding aflexible bag of various sizes in an open manner in order to facilitateits filling.

[0002] Bags such as refuse bags, shopping bags etc., used for collectingand holding objects are commonly made of flexible material such asplastics, fabric, other synthetics, or paper. They are normally used forholding objects either for easy transportation, storage, or disposal.The most annoying problem in using a flexible bag is to maintain it inan open manner for filling, since it is awkward for a user to open thebag with one hand while filling it with the other. For example, whenusing a flexible refuse bag outdoor for collecting leaves in the fall,the flexible bag would be fluttered by wind which makes maintaining thebag in the open condition extremely difficult. Even indoor, it isinefficient and troublesome to maintain the bag opened with one hand andto fill it with the other only free hand.

[0003] Many devices have been developed to alleviate the above problem.One common device is in the form of a fixed bracket designed to matchthe size of the bag or slightly larger thereof, and the flexible bag maybe mounted by stretching its lip portion to wrap tightly over thebracket. The stretch tension of the bag material would maintain the bagin the open manner. With this device, the bracket must have a relativelylarger dimension than the lip portion of the bag for creating thestretch tension strong enough to hold the bag mounted in the openmanner. Often times, the lip portion of the bag would be torn when theuser attempts to stretch it to wrap over the bracket. Furthermore, inuse, the weight of the load in the bag would simply pull the bag offfrom the bracket. The latter problem may be mitigated by using acontainer having a comparable size as the bag. It may be placed withinthe container with its lip portion again stretched and wrapped tightlyaround the upper opened rim portion of the container so that thecontainer would support the weight of the loaded bag. However, thebulkiness of the container makes it difficult for carrying around. Thecontainer would occupy storage space, and the lip portion of the bag isstill subject to the tearing problem. It is also difficult to remove thebag from the container for disposal, and therefore, it limits thebenefits of using flexible bags.

[0004] The above problems have been alleviated by the devices shown inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/532,313 filed on Mar. 22, 2000 bythe Applicant of the present application. Nevertheless, due to the lackof standards, there is a large variation of flexible bag sizes; and nosingle mounting device presently would work satisfactorily with suchwide range of flexible bag sizes. However, this invention is aiming toovercome this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The principal object of the present invention is to provide adevice with a plurality of inner hoops for mounting a flexible bag of awide range of sizes.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide amounting device having means for accommodating excess lip portion of thebag when the bag is larger than the mounting device for facilitating ismounting operation.

[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aspillage collect tray adapted for use with the mounting device forcapturing spillage of debris or liquid from the mounted bag in the eventa bag puncture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description and appended claims when taken with the drawings inwhich:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of an outer binder andan inner hoop having mating side walls, illustrating the basic conceptof the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the basic device ofthe present invention with a flexible bag mounted thereto.

[0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevation view showing a plurality ofinner hoops with same heights as the outer binder which may be insertedinto the outer binder according to the present invention for mountingflexible bags of different sizes.

[0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation view showing a plurality ofnarrow inner hoops which may be inserted into the outer binder.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing the plurality of innerhoops of FIG. 4 located at different levels within the outer binder formounting flexible bags of different sizes.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective front exploded elevation view showing theprovision of two selected inner hoops of different sizes adapted tolocate within the outer binder to accommodate flexible bags of differentcommon sizes.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective front elevation view showing the twoselected inner hoops as shown in FIG. 6 located within the outer binderof an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective front exploded elevation view showinganother embodiment of the device having two selected inner hoops ofdifferent sizes.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a perspective front elevation view showing the two innerhoops located within the outer binder and in which the lower portion ofa smaller inner hoop extends outside the lower edge of the outer binder.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a perspective front elevation view of a wall mountedembodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 11 is a perspective front elevation view of a stool or tablehaving the device of the present invention integrally incorporatedtherein.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a perspective front elevation view of the stool ortable of FIG. 11 provided with a cover.

[0021]FIG. 13 is an exploded sectional side elevation view of anotherembodiment of the device of the present invention having a plurality ofinner hoops with an outer flange adaptable within an outer binder havingan annular shoulder formed in its inner side wall.

[0022]FIG. 14 is a sectional side elevation view of the device of theembodiment of FIG. 13 with the smaller inner hoop located withinadjacent larger inner hoop. In this fashion, until the largest innerhoop is located within the outer binder.

[0023]FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of a stool or table with thedevice of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 integrally incorporatedtherein.

[0024]FIG. 16 is an exploded side elevation view of yet anotherembodiment with the outer binder having a step-like inner side wallsurface and the inner hoops of various sizes which have an outer flangeadapted to engage with the steps of the outer binder at differentlevels.

[0025]FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the embodiments of FIG. 16showing the inner hoops located at the different levels within the outerbinder.

[0026]FIG. 18 is an exploded front elevation view of a wall mounteddevice with the embodiment of FIG. 16 incorporated therein.

[0027]FIG. 19 is a front perspective elevation view showing the twoflanged inner hoops of different sizes located within the outer binderfor mounting flexible bags of different sizes for the embodiment shownin FIG. 18.

[0028]FIGS. 20 and 21 are front perspective elevation view showing theformation of a plurality of star shaped openings in the inner hoops suchthat loose portions around the lip portion of the flexible bag may bepushed or inserted therein to retain the flexible bag snugly engaged tothe inner hoop to enhance its mounting operation within the outerbinder.

[0029]FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective front elevation view showing aportable embodiment of the device of the present invention in which theouter binder and the inner hoops have an arch shape upper portion.

[0030]FIG. 23 is a perspective front elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 22 with the inner hoops located within the outer binder.

[0031]FIG. 24 is an exploded front elevation view of the alternativeportable embodiment in which the arch portion of a plurality of innerhoops having an outer flange adapted to engage with the inner shoulderin the arch portion of the outer binder or with that of the adjacentlarger inner hoop.

[0032]FIG. 25 is a front perspective elevation view of the device ofFIG. 24 with the inner hoops fitted within the outer binder.

[0033]FIG. 26 is another portable embodiment of the present device inwhich the outer binder and the inner hoop are triangular in shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Referring more particularly to the drawings, the basic principleof the present invention is generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The basiccomponents of the device comprises of an outer binder 10 having an innerside wall 11 and an inner hoop 12 having an outer side wall 13. Thesurface of the inner side wall 11 of the outer binder 10 and outer sidewall 13 of the inner hoop 12 have complementary mating shapes. As shownin FIG. 1, both of these side walls 11 and 13 have complementary slopesof one another such that when the inner hoop 12 is located within theouter binder 10, they will engage and mate with one another intimately.A sloping shape is shown as an example for ease of illustration, it willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that the surface of the sidewalls 11 and 13 may have other shapes or configuration; and as long asthey are complementary to one another they will mate with one another toform the basic device for providing the desired result of the presentinvention for mounting a flexible bag.

[0035] A flexible bag 14 may be mounted to the device as shown in FIG. 2with the flexible bag 14 first inserted through the opening of the innerhoop 12 and then with the bag's lip portion 15 folded backwards to wrapover the outer side wall 13 of the inner hoop 12. The inner hoop 12 withthe flexible bag 14 thus mounted thereon is then placed into the outerbinder 10 to sandwich the bag's folded lip portion 15 between the matinginner side wall 11 of the outer binder 10 and the outer side wall 13 ofthe inner hoop 12. The device would thus maintain the flexible bag 14 inthe open manner for filling a load 14A into the bag. The weight of theload 14A will inherently exert a pulling force downwards to the innerhoop 12 to cause it to engage tightly with the outer binder 10. As thebag is being filled, the increasing weight of the load 14A willcorrespondingly exert an increasing force to grasp the bag's lip portionever more tightly between the mating side walls of the outer binder 10and the inner hoop 12.

[0036] FIGS. 3 shows another basic concept of the present invention, inwhich a plurality of inner hoops 12A through 12E may be provided withinthe outer binder 10. The inner hoops 12A through 12E have graduallydecreasing sizes such that a flexible bag of any size may be mountedbetween the outer binder 10 and the inner hoop 12A or between anyneighboring pairs of inner hoops selectively or between the outer binder10 and any selected one of the inner hoops 12A to 12E. However, inpractice, since the size variation between the neighboring inner hoopsis small whereas the variation of size between common flexible bags isusually relatively large, it is not practical to provide such largenumber of inner hoops with relatively small gradually decreasing sizes.

[0037]FIG. 4 shows a more practical approach for mitigating the drawbackof the above device. In this construction, the inner hoops 12F through12J are in the form of narrow annular hoops of rapidly decreasing sizes.The inner hoops 12F through 12J will thus engage a portion of the outerbinder 10 as best shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the number of inner hoopsrequired is greatly and practically reduced to accommodate the samerange of available common flexible bags than the device in FIG. 3.Generally, only two inner hoops such as 12I and 12G will suffice tocover the common different flexible sizes as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and9. The lower inner hoop 12I may lie completely within the outer binder10 as shown in FIG. 7, or a lower portion of it may extend outside belowthe bottom edge of the outer binder 10 as shown in FIG. 9.

[0038]FIG. 10 shows that the outer binder 10 may be provided with anintegral bracket 16 having extension lugs 17 for mounting the device ina cantilever manner horizontally at a fixed location on a vertical wall.Alternatively, FIG. 11 shows that the outer binder may be integrallyformed in the top of a portable stool or table 18 having supporting legs19 so that the device may be moved freely to any selected convenientlocation. FIG. 12 shows that a circular lid 20 may be provided at thetop 21 of the stool or table to cover the opening of the outer binder.The lid 20 may lie flush with the top 21 or it may recede completelywithin the opening. A central opening 22 is formed in the lid 20 so thatwaste material may be placed into the flexible bag mounted on the devicewithout having to open or remove the lid.

[0039]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which themating side walls of the outer binder and the inner hoop have matingshapes other than sloping side walls. The outer binder 10A is a thin ornarrow hoop having an inner annular shoulder portion 23. A plurality ofthin inner hoops 12K through 12O are provided. The inner hoops are ofdecreasing sizes; and each inner hoop has an outer annular flange 24 andan inner annular shoulder 25. The first inner hoop 12K may engage withinthe outer binder 10A with its outer annular flange 24 resting on theinner annular shoulder portion 23 of the outer binder 10A. Eachsubsequent inner hoop may engage with the neighboring larger size innerhoop with its outer annular flange resting on the inner annular shoulderof the latter. In this latter case, the larger inner hoop serves as anextension of the outer binder. The last smallest inner hoop 12O is notnecessary to be provided with an inner annular shoulder since no furtherinner hoop will engage within it. In this embodiment, the engagementbetween the largest inner hoop 12K with the outer binder 10A and betweenany neighboring inner hoops is not required to have a tight fitting.; aslong as the outer annular flange 24 of the largest or intermediate innerhoop has a width large enough such that it will rest on the innerannular shoulder portion 23 of the outer binder 10A or the neighboringlarger inner hoop, the weight of the waste material in the flexible bagwould exert the required force to pull the inner hoop against the outerbinder or another neighboring inner hoop to clamp the flexible bagsecurely in place. FIG. 15 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14formed integrally into a stool or table similar to the embodiment shownin FIG. 12. Open ended slots 26, 27, 28 and 28A may be formed around theannular flange 24 as shown in FIG. 13 to facilitate the mounting of theflexible bag during the mounting operation. This is achieved by pushingvarious spots around the fold back lip portion of the flexible bag intothese opened end slots to be held therein so that the inner hoop withthe flexible bag thus mounted thereto may be placed easily inside theouter hinder.

[0040] Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In thisembodiment, the outer binder 10B has a step-like inner side wall surface11A and the inner hoops 12P through 12T of increasing sizes have anannular outer flange 24 adapted to engage with the annular steps at thedifferent levels of the inner side wall surface 11A of the outer binder10B. Similar to the previous embodiment, the inner hoops and the outerbinder in this embodiment are not required to have a tight engagement.The weight of the waste material in the flexible bag would also exertthe required force to pull the inner hoop against the outer binder tosandwich the lip portion of the flexible bag tightly between them. Awall mounted device having this embodiment incorporated therein is shownin FIGS. 18 and 19. Only two selected inner hoops 12P and 12S areprovided to cover commonly available different sizes of flexible bags.

[0041] A plurality of retaining openings 29 are formed over the entiresloping side wall of the inner hoops as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21These retaining openings 29 preferably have a star shape and they areadapted for facilitating the mounting of the flexible bag to the presentdevice. The flexible bag is first inserted through the inner hoop asdiscussed above with its lip portion folded backward over the inner hoopand selected parts of the folded back lip portion may be pushed throughthose retaining openings around the inner hoop so that these pushedthrough parts are gripped by the retaining openings. The inner hoop withthe flexible bag thus mounted thereto may then be easily placed withinthe outer binder to sandwich the folded back lip portion of the flexiblebag between them.

[0042] A portable embodiment of the present device is shown in FIGS. 22and 23. In this embodiment, the outer binder 10C has a flat base 30 andan arch shaped upper binder 31. The upper binder 31 has an inwardlysloping inner side wall 32. The inner hoops 12U and 12V have the sameshape as the outer binder 10C and have a flat base 33 and a narrow upperarch portion 34 which has a sloping outer side wall 35 adapted to mateintimately with the inner side wall 32 of the outer binder 10C. Theinner hoops may engage within the outer binder as shown in FIG. 23similar to the circular embodiments as shown above for mounting aflexible bag between the outer binder and the larger inner hoop. Only aportion of the side wall of the inner hoop and the outer binder need toengage with each other to achieve the clamping function for the flexiblebag. In the same fashion, the smaller inner hoop 12V engages with theadjacent larger inner hoop 12U. The device may be conveniently placedanywhere on a floor by the flat base 30. Also, the flat base 30 mayserve as a dust pan to facilitate sweeping of the waste material intothe flexible bag mounted thereto.

[0043] Another portable embodiment of the present device is shown inFIGS. 24 and 25. The arch-shaped outer binder 10C is provided with astep inside shoulder 36 and the arch portion of an inner hoop 12W isprovided with a flanged shoulder 37 as well as an inside shoulder 37Aand a second inner hoop 12X having just a flange should 37 such that theflexible bag may be mounted either between the outer binder 10C and thelargest inner hoop 12W, or between the largest inner hoop 12W and thesmaller inner hoop 12X similar to the annular shape embodiment as shownpreviously.

[0044] A preferred portable embodiment having all the features of thepresent invention is best shown in FIG. 26. In this embodiment, theouter binder 10D is a generally triangular hoop or band having a baseportion 38 and two sloping upper side walls 39 and 40. A substantiallyU-shaped handle 41 is located at the apex between the upper side walls39 and 40 such that the device may be conveniently carried from onelocation to another. The handle 41 has a closed front wall 42 which isprovided with a through opening 43 adapted for hanging the device on awall for storage. The side walls 39 and 40 have an inwardly andrearwardly sloping inner surface and a plurality of elongated transverseslot openings 44 and 45 are formed on the side walls 39 and 40respectively. Two spaced supporting extension legs 46 and 47 extendoutwardly and rearwardly adjacent to the corners of the base portion 38to enhance the secure resting of the device on the floor. A plurality ofscrew openings 48 are formed on the inner surface of the base portion38. Two semi-circular latches 49 and 50 are formed at the rear edgeportion of the base portion 38. Two cut outs 51 and 52 are formed on therear edge portion of the side walls 39 and 40 respectively preferablyadjacent to the two lower corners. The inner hoop 12Y is generallytriangular in shaped and having a size adapted to engage within theouter binder 10D.

[0045] The narrow inner hoop 12Y has a flat base portion 53 and twoslanting side walls 54 and 55 which have an outer surface slopinginwardly and rearwardly such that the inner hoop 12Y may engageintimately within the outer binder 10D for mounting the flexible bagbetween them. A plurality of star shaped retaining openings 56 and 57are formed in the side walls 54 and 55 respectively. The second set ofretainer openings 62 is formed at the base portion 53 of the inner hoop12Y. The combination of the retainer openings 56 and 57 and 62 achievethe same effect as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 such that the lip of theflexible bag clings to the inner hoop 12Y to ease its insertion into theouter binder 10D. These retaining openings 56 and 57 will aligned withthe elongated slot openings 44 and 45 respectively. The inner hoop 12Ymay be released from the outer binder 10D by inserting fingers into theopenings 56 and 57 through the longer openings 44 and 45 to push theinner hoop 12Y outwards.

[0046] Two semi-circular latches 58 and 59 are formed at the rear edgeportion of the side walls 54 and 55 respectively adjacent to the lowertwo corners therein. Two cut outs 60 and 61 are formed at the rear edgeportion of the base portion 53 and located adjacent to the two lowercorners. The retaining opening 62 will align with the screw openings 48formed on the base portion 38 of the outer binder 10D when the innerhoop 12Y is fitted within the outer binder 10D. The semi-circularlatches 58 and 59 of the inner hoop 12Y will also engage with the cutouts 51 and 52 of the outer binder to prevent the inner hoop 12Y frombeing pulled out from the rear of the device by the weight of the loadedbag. The semi-circular latches 49 and 50 on the base portion of theouter binder 10D will also engage with the cut outs 60 and 61 at therear edge portion of the inner hoop 12Y to prevent the inner hoop 12Y infalling out from the front of the device when the device is resting on asloping floor. Thus, the inner hoop 12Y is fitted within the outerbinder 10D securely by the latches.

[0047] The portable device described in FIG. 26 with the outer binder10D and the inner hoop 12Y can readily be converted into a fixed mountdevice. The outer binder can be secured with screws to a wall or post atthe openings 48. The retainer openings 62 of the inner hoop 12Y arelarger and are strategically centered such that the inner hoop 12Y canbe moved in and out of the outer binder 10D without the obstructionsfrom the heads of the screws located at the screw openings 48.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto particular embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognizethat changes may be made in form and detail without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:
 1. A mounting device for holding a flexible bag ofvarious sizes in an open condition, comprising an outer binder having anopening with an inner side wall of a predetermined configuration, aplurality of inner hoops members of different sizes, and each inner hoopmember having an outer side wall configuration complementary to adifferent level of said predetermined surface of said inner side wall ofsaid outer binder, said flexible bag being mountable on said device byfirst inserting through a selected one inner hoop member with a lipportion of said flexible bag folded backward over said one inner hoopmember prior to mounting said one inner hoop member within said outerbinder to sandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between saidone inner hoop member and said outer binder.
 2. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said predetermined configuration of saidinner side wall of said outer binder is a sloping side wall, and saidouter side wall configuration of said one inner hoop member is slopingin a complementary manner to said sloping side wall of said outer binderat a selected level therein.
 3. A mounting device according to claim 2wherein said inner hoop members are thin hoop members having afractional height of said outer binder.
 4. A mounting device accordingto claim 3 including a bracket integrally formed on said outer binder,said bracket being adapted for mounting said device to a wall surface.5. A mounting device according to claim 3 wherein said outer binder isintegrally formed in a top surface of a table.
 6. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein said outer binder includes an arch shapedupper portion with inner side wall having said predetermined wallconfiguration formed therein, and having a substantially flat baseportion adapted for resting on a ground surface.
 7. A mounting devicefor holding a flexible bag of various sizes in an open condition forfilling operation, comprising a generally hoop-shaped outer binderhaving an inside opening with a predetermined side wall configuration, aplurality of inner hoop members of decreasing sizes and each inner hoopmember having an outer side wall configuration shaped in a complementarymanner to different levels of said predetermined side wall configurationof said outer binder, said flexible bag being mountable on said deviceby first inserting through a selected one inner hoop member with a lipportion of said flexible bag folded backward over said one inner hoopmember prior to mounting said one inner hoop member with said flexiblebag clung thereto within said inside opening of said outer binder tosandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between engaging outerside wall of said one inner hoop member and inner side wall of saidouter binder.
 8. A mounting device according to claim 7 wherein saidinner side wall configuration of said outer binder and said outer sidewall configuration of said inner hoop members are complementary slopingside walls.
 9. A mounting device according to claim 7 wherein said innerside wall configuration of said outer binder is a stepped side wallhaving circular shoulders of decreasing sizes and said outer side wallof said inner hoop members includes a peripheral flange adapted toengage with a selected one of said circular shoulders.
 10. A mountingdevice for holding a flexible bag of a various sizes in an opencondition for filling operation, comprising a generally hoop-shapedouter binder having an inside opening with a predetermined side wallconfiguration, a plurality of inner hoop members of decreasing sizes, alargest one of said inner hoop members having an outer side wallconfiguration shaped in a complementary manner to said predeterminedside wall configuration of said outer binder, and each inner hoop memberhaving an inner side wall configuration complementary to the outer sidewall configuration of an immediate neighboring inner hoop member, saidflexible bag of one size being mountable between said largest one ofsaid inner hoop members and said outer binder, and said flexible bag ofa smaller size being mountable between two selected inner hoop memberswherein a larger one of said two selected inner hoop members is saidlargest inner hoop member mounted within said outer binder.
 11. Amounting device according to claim 10 wherein said larger one of saidtwo selected inner hoop members is mounted to said outer binder throughat least one intermediate inner hoop member.
 12. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 11 wherein said inner side wall configuration of saidouter binder has a circular stepped shoulder, and said outer side wallof said inner hoop members includes a peripheral flange, said peripheralflange of said largest one of said inner hoop members is adapted toengage with said circular stepped shoulder of said outer binder.
 13. Amounting device according to claim 12 wherein, except for a smallestinner hoop member, said inside wall of all intermediate inner hoopmembers and said largest one of said inner hoop members have an annularshoulder formed therein adapted to engage with said peripheral flange ofa neighboring smaller inner hoop member.
 14. A mounting device accordingto claim 13 including a plurality of open ended retaining slots formedin said peripheral flange of said inner hoop members.
 15. A mountingdevice according to claim 9 including a bracket integrally formed onsaid outer binder and adapted for mounting said device to a wallsurface.
 16. A mounting device according to claim 13 wherein said outerbinder is integrally formed in a top surface of a table.
 17. A mountingdevice according to claim 16 including a cover adapted to cover oversaid inner hoop member mounted in said outer binder.
 18. A mountingdevice according to claim 8 wherein said outer binder has an arch shapedupper portion with inner side wall having stepped shoulders formedtherein and a substantially flat base portion adapted to rest on aground surface, and said inner hoop members are similarly shaped as saidouter binder and having an outer peripheral flange formed on the outerside wall of the arch shaped upper portion therein adapted to engagewith said stepped shoulders of said outer binder.
 19. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 7 including a plurality of retainer openings formedin said inner hoop members.
 20. A mounting device according to claim 19wherein said retainer openings are substantially star-shaped.
 21. Amounting device for holding a flexible bag of various sizes in an opencondition, comprising an outer binder having an arch shaped upperportion and a substantially flat base portion adapted to rest on aground surface, said upper portion having a predetermined inner sidewall configuration formed therein, a plurality of inner hoop membershaving a shape similar to said outer binder including an arch shapedupper portion and a substantially flat base portion, and said archshaped upper portion of said inner hoop members having an outer sidewall configuration complementary to said predetermined inner side wallconfiguration of said arch shaped upper portion of said outer binder, alargest size inner hoop member being adapted to engage within said outerbinder, and subsequent inner hoop members being engageable within animmediate neighboring larger inner hoop member located within said outerbinder, said flexible bag being mountable on said device by firstinserting through largest inner hoop member with a lip portion of saidflexible bag folded backward over said largest inner hoop member priorto mounting said largest inner hoop member within said outer binder tosandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between said largestinner hoop member and said outer binder, and in a similar manner asmaller size flexible bag being mountable between two neighboring innerhoop members located within said outer binder.
 22. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 21 wherein said outer binder and said inner hoopmembers are substantially triangular in shaped with one side formingsaid base portion and two sloping sides extending upwards from said baseportion to form said arch shaped upper portion.
 23. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 22 including a plurality of retainer openings formedin said sloping sides of said inner hoop members adapted to facilitateeasy mounting of said inner hoop member, with said flexible bag attachedthereto, to said outer binder, and a plurality of transverse elongatedopenings formed on said sloping sides of said outer binder, saidretainer openings and said elongated openings being aligned with oneanother when an inner hoop member is mounted within said outer binder tofacilitate easy removal of said inner hoop member from said outer binderwith a push out action.
 24. A mounting device according to claim 22including a plurality of semi-circular cut outs formed on a rear edge ofsaid sloping sides of said outer binder, and a plurality ofsemi-circular latches formed on a rear edge of said sloping sides ofsaid inner hoop members, a plurality of additional semi-circular cutouts formed in a rear edge of said base portion of said inner hoopmembers and a plurality of additional semi-circular latches formed in arear edge of said base portion of said outer binder, said semi-circularcut outs and semi-circular latches as well as said additionalsemi-circular cut outs and said additional semi-circular latches beingadapted to engage with one another when one inner hoop member is mountedwithin said outer binder for maintaining said one inner hoop membersecurely mounted in place, and two extension arms extending outwardsrearwardly from said rear edge of said outer binder and adapted toprovide additional support for said outer binder in resting on saidfloor.
 25. A mounting device according to claim 22 including a pluralityof mounting openings formed on said base portion of said outer binderadapted for mounting said outer binder on a wall with screws, aplurality of corresponding openings formed in said base portion of saidinner hoop members adapted to accommodate heads of said screws and tostore excessive lip portions of said flexible bag when an inner hoopmember is engaged within said outer binder mounted to said wall.
 26. Amounting device according to claim 24 including a substantially U-shapedhandle formed at an apex of said two sloping sides, said handle having afront wall with a mounting opening formed therein adapted for hangingsaid device on a wall surface.